Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bull Bay Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Bull Bay

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,264 per month in Phuket vs $833 in Bull Bay, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Phuket vs $1,225 in Bull Bay, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,248 per month in Phuket vs $1,616 in Bull Bay, rent included.

Phuket costs about 52% more than Bull Bay, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Bull Bay are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 5% lower, Bull Bay 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.48 ฿150

$7.54 JMD 1,187

-40.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.59 ฿1,525

$63.6 JMD 9,997

-28.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 ฿293

$6.44 JMD 1,013

36.02%

Cappuccino

$2.97 ฿99.3

$1.60 JMD 252

85.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 ฿22.96

$0.95 JMD 149

-27.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ฿13.07

$0.71 JMD 112

-45.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.53 ฿84.7

$2.56 JMD 403

-1.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 ฿125

$2.43 JMD 382

54.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.15 ฿71.8

$4.35 JMD 684

-50.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.82 ฿60.7

$3.31 JMD 520

-45.02%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ฿73.1

$1.23 JMD 193

77.24%

Eggs

$2.25 ฿75.2

$3.55 JMD 558

-36.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$20.00 ฿669

$4.98 JMD 784

301.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 ฿121

$6.49 JMD 1,020

-44.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.56 ฿453

$3.75 JMD 590

261.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.24 ฿109

$1.91 JMD 300

69.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 ฿54.7

$1.91 JMD 300

-14.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.33 ฿78.0

$2.15 JMD 338

8.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.07 ฿69.3

$0.96 JMD 150

115.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 ฿51.8

$0.91 JMD 143

70.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.67

$1.53 JMD 240

-4.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.98 ฿32.94

$1.10 JMD 173

-10.91%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 ฿16.13

$1.02 JMD 160

-52.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 ฿146

$3.82 JMD 601

13.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 ฿621

$3.87 JMD 609

379.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 ฿62.1

$2.43 JMD 383

-23.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.65 ฿88.8

$2.44 JMD 383

8.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.42 ฿47.40

$0.93 JMD 146

52.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.57 ฿387

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 ฿106

$0.96 JMD 150

230.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.03 ฿34.51

$3.15 JMD 495

-67.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.89 ฿465

$6.10 JMD 959

127.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 ฿44.96

$1.25 JMD 196

7.20%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$27.8K ฿929.6K

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-35.68%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.4K ฿1.1M

$34.0K JMD 5.3M

-1.85%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$123 ฿4,116

$115 JMD 18.1K

7.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.77 ฿461

$22.12 JMD 3,479

-37.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.33 ฿613

$18.50 JMD 2,910

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$60.7 ฿2,030

$30.73 JMD 4,833

97.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.16 ฿574

Cinema Ticket

$8.87 ฿297

$13.03 JMD 2,049

-31.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 ฿23.0K

$228 JMD 35.9K

201.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$15.8K ฿527.8K

$2,442 JMD 384.0K

546.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 ฿1,984

$26.23 JMD 4,126

126.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.69 ฿1,160

$25.62 JMD 4,030

35.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 ฿3,853

$71.4 JMD 11.2K

61.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 ฿2,802

$75.1 JMD 11.8K

11.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$621 ฿20.8K

$216 JMD 34.0K

187.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$446 ฿14.9K

$154 JMD 24.3K

188.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,034 ฿68.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,496 ฿50.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,455 ฿115.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,531 ฿84.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$494 ฿16.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.33

9.15

-41.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Phuket: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bull Bay: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $621 in Phuket versus $216 in Bull Bay. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $46.00 in Phuket versus $64.0 in Bull Bay. Groceries tell a different story – $291 in Phuket vs $236 in Bull Bay – so Bull Bay wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Phuket vs Bull Bay: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,264 in Phuket, $833 in Bull Bay – roughly 52% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,896 per month in Phuket and $1,250 in Bull Bay. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bull Bay, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,264 in Phuket and $833 in Bull Bay. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $688 per month in Phuket and $228 in Bull Bay. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bull Bay, where all-in costs run around $833, than in Phuket at $1,264. In Bull Bay it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $833 in Bull Bay to $1,264 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bull Bay. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.